Whether you're backing up your Alpha 300 or 300i, or just transferring your personal settings, dogs or way points to your new handheld; the Garmin Alpha 300/300i has the new backup and restore features along with the ability to quickly transfer data between Alpha 300's.
There are 3 ways to backup, restore, or transfer data between your Alpha 300 or Alpha 300i.
- Using a Garmin Alpha 300 to save a back up file and restore on the Alpha 300 itself.
- Restoring A new or 2nd 300 Handheld by transferring the backup file to another wirelessly.
- Or using a computer to save and transfer the back up file, Then copy the file to your new or second Alpha 300.
NOTE: Using a computer is a great way to keep a copy of your backup file and settings in case something bad happens to your Garmin Alpha 300. Should your 300/300i get damaged, lost or broken you would have a file to quickly restore your new Alpha 300 with all your dog tracking information.
Step 1 Alpha 300: CREATING A BACKUP FILE !
The Alpha 300 data is automatically backed up each day! And if it has not been turned on recently it will back its self up with in 5 minutes of turning on.
If you would like, the Auto Backup can be turned off and on manually in the Reset menu.
Garmin recommends that you don't rename any of the backup files. However we have found that you can rename your file as long as you don't change the file extension. The file will need to keep a file extension of ".dat" to work properly.
If you'd like to preform or force the device to create a backup manually here's how.
Select Setup, the icon that looks like a wrench and screwdriver in your main menu.
Select Reset.
Select Backup Now.
This will automatically create a file saved in the memory of the Alpha Handheld labeled "Year-Month-Day-Minute-Hour".
Step 2: Restoring your Alpha 300 with a saved backup data !
This can be used if you wish to revert to a previously saved back up.
Select Setup.
Select Reset.
Select Restore Now, and select the backup file you'd like to load onto your handheld.
Sharing your data between 2 separate Alpha 300/300i handhelds !
Another way to back up your 300/300i is to send it directly to another Alpha 300 or Alpha 300i handheld. (Note that these 2 handhelds must be within 10ft of each other).
Sending:
Select Setup.
Select Reset.
Select the Share Icon
Select Send.
Then select the file you’d like to send to the other Alpha 300 GPS handheld
The Garmin Alpha 300 or Alpha 300i will begin searching for a device to send the file to.
Receiving:
Select Setup.
Select Reset.
Select the Share Icon
Select Receive.
The handheld will then start downloading/receiving the file from the other handheld.
Once the file is received, you'll need to start the restore process to get the newly received file loaded onto your Alpha 300 GPS Handheld.
Using a computer to save, transfer and restore data between your Alpha 300 handhelds !
Ensure you've already backed up your Alpha 300, using the steps above.
Sharing your handheld backup file(s) to your computer.
Plug your Alpha 300 into the computer you using the provided Garmin USB cable.
Open the device drive on the computer.
Open Internal Storage
Open the Garmin folder.
Open Backups.
Select and save the backup file you wish to share, restore or save for future use to your desktop.
Receiving a backup file on your handheld from you computer with saved file(s).
Plug your Garmin Alpha 300/300i into the computer you using the provided Garmin USB cable.
Open the Alpha 300 drive on the computer.
Open Internal Storage
Open the Garmin folder.
Open Backups
Find the file you previously saved from you Alpha 300.
Copy the file and paste it into the Backup folder on your Alpha 300 handheld.
Once the transfer is complete, you can now unplug the GPS from your computer and start the restore process.